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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
It seems only a matter of time until Russell Wilson is named the Week 1 starter. The quarterback rotation in the preseason finale on Saturday indicated that the competition is already decided. Wilson started, played a single series, and went to the bench after leading a touchdown drive. Head coach Mike Tomlin has repeatedly used the phrase “pole position” to describe Wilson’s standing as the favorite to open the season as the starter. After the game, he refused to go further and officially name a starter. “We’ll make a decision at the end of our work week,” Tomlin said. Justin Fields did not do enough to overtake Wilson. There have been flashes, including a pair of impressive throws in the preseason finale, but he simply had too many negative plays to threaten for the starting job. That doesn’t mean both quarterbacks won’t earn starts this year, but Fields will have to push harder.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Jaylen Warren was banged up last week but looks to have escaped with a relatively minor hamstring injury. He appears set to return to practice with time to ramp up for Week 1. “It’s nothing major,” Warren said of his injury. “I would play, but you have to be smart. I am fine. We are just looking at this point to the regular season.” Even with Warren healthy, Najee Harris remains the leader of the backfield. However, if you view the backfield through the lens of weighted fantasy opportunity (targets are more valuable than carries), this backfield projects as close to a 50-50 weighted opportunity split as any team in the league, given that Warren is more involved as a pass catcher. Remember, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s top two backs in Atlanta last season, Bijan Robinson (272) and Tyler Allgeier (204), combined for 476 touches, and Harris (284) and Warren (210) combined for 494 touches last season in Pittsburgh. This will be a running back-centric offense with nearly 500 touches available for the top two backs. No. 3 tailback Cordarrelle Patterson got the preseason start and finished the opening drive with a 31-yard rushing touchdown.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
The preseason has wrapped up, and we still have zero clarity on where Brandon Aiyuk will play football this season. His potential addition is a massive domino that has yet to fall. For now, assume what we see is what we get. George Pickens is far and away the top target and should eclipse last year’s 106 targets, even if Aiyuk ends up on the roster. There is little to be excited about beyond Pickens. Van Jefferson is the de facto No. 2 but has had a quiet camp. Rookie Roman Wilson should push for a critical role as the second or third receiver once he gets back up to speed from the high ankle sprain he suffered early in camp. Calvin Austin III should rotate into the slot. Scotty Miller and Dez Fitzpatrick are bubble players who could stick around and provide depth.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth is the top option and could operate as the de facto No. 2 wide receiver if the Steelers don’t acquire another receiver. Arthur Smith’s scheme relies heavily on the tight ends but also spreads the ball around. Kyle Pitts (90 targets), Jonnu Smith (70 targets), and MyCole Pruitt (12 targets) limited each other’s upside. Pruitt followed Coach Smith to Pittsburgh and is going to make the team. Pruitt, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward will each have subpackage roles.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Outside linebacker Nick Herbig made splash plays in every preseason game and is poised to step into an even more significant role as a part-time pass rusher. He gives Pittsburgh one of the top pass-rushing trios in the NFL with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Defensive tackle Keanu Benton looks ready to emerge as a top young starter and long-term building block for the defense. DeMarvin Leal has finally started to figure things out after a slow start to his career. He is down to 275 pounds and seeing snaps inside and outside on the defensive line. His versatility could allow the Steelers to keep just three outside linebackers. Thomas Graham Jr. has emerged as the favorite to open Week 1 as the starting nickel cornerback. The wide-open camp battle ended with Graham playing the majority of the first half ahead of Beanie Bishop Jr. and other contenders for the spot. Rookie cornerback Ryan Watts took a knee to the head in a scary collision late in the preseason finale.
Preseason Updates: Returners
Cordarrelle Patterson is the best kickoff returner in history and will handle those responsibilities for Pittsburgh this year. Calvin Austin III will likely field punts.
Updates from Week 3
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
The quarterback competition between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields remains too close to call because neither has performed well. The two split first-team reps almost 50-50 in joint practices with Buffalo. Wilson and Fields were also the only Pittsburgh quarterbacks to play in the Week 2 matchup against the Bills’ backup defenders. The offense managed just three points and 113 net passing yards. The stats are not misleading when assessing the state of the passing offense—it looks awful.
Wilson played most of the first half, completing eight passes for just 47 yards, mostly on check-downs. A big chunk of the 47 yards came on 3rd-and-long dump-offs stopped short of the sticks. Wilson's shaky pocket presence contributed to three sacks on his five scoreless drives. He had a chance to take a big step toward winning the quarterback competition and failed to do so. “It’s somewhat of an incomplete study because you don’t get to see [Wilson] operate or us operate or us establish rhythm or personality when you’re not winning possession downs,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “And we weren’t.”
Fields entered late in the second quarter and played the remainder of the game. His play was a microcosm of what we have seen throughout his career: a mix of flashy plays, missed throws, and poor pocket presence. When sacks occur, sometimes it’s due to poor line play, and other times, the quarterback is responsible. The offensive tackles look incredibly shaky, and both quarterbacks are exacerbating the issue with slow processing and suboptimal pocket movement. Over the past two seasons, Wilson (100) and Fields (99) are first and second in sacks taken. No other quarterback has been sacked more than 77 times over the same stretch. Combine their propensity for sacks with a struggling offensive line, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren split the first-team reps evenly again all week and in the game. If they’re both healthy, this has the makings of a genuine 50/50 committee. Unfortunately, Warren suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday and will miss multiple weeks, with his status for the start of the regular season in question.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
All eyes are on the on-again, off-again Brandon Aiyuk trade. The latest intel suggests that the 49ers prefer Aiyuk accept their contract offer. The ball seems to be in Aiyuk’s court. If he is not satisfied with San Francisco’s final offer, trade compensation (a second-round and third-round pick, according to Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle) and contract extension terms with Pittsburgh are already in place. Expect a resolution one way or the other during the coming week. One interesting aspect of the potential Aiyuk trade is what it might mean for the long-term future of George Pickens in Pittsburgh.
Next offseason, he will be in line for his own lucrative extension. Given the recent deals signed by Nico Collins, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, and Calvin Ridley, Pickens will soon be rich. Would Pittsburgh pay top-of-the-market money to two wide receivers? Gerry Dulac, longtime beat reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reported, “The Steelers consider Pickens their No. 1 receiver and intend to pay him accordingly.” Dulac notes that Pickens has “spent every day at training camp making the routine plays look spectacular, and the spectacular plays look easy.” He made a ridiculous sideline grab in the preseason matchup against the Bills, which was ruled out of bounds. It may have been ruled in if Tomlin had challenged. Behind Pickens, the next two wide receivers up are Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III. Quez Watkins is pushing Austin in the slot. Roman Wilson may eventually be in the mix when he gets healthy.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth’s fantasy value may be negatively impacted if the Aiyuk trade goes through. He is the favorite to be the No. 2 target in the offense should Aiyuk stay in San Francisco. If the trade does go through, Freiermuth will be a distant third in the pecking order in what should be a relatively low-volume passing offense.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Injuries are starting to become an issue for the defense. Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson exited the second half of the Bills game with a concussion. The slot cornerback position has been a two-man competition between Grayland Arnold and Beanie Bishop Jr. Arnold was placed on injured reserve this week. Bishop is also out. Tomlin said Bishop is dealing with a minor injury, and the Steelers didn’t want “a small problem to become a big problem.”
Preseason Updates: Offensive Lines
This spring, the Steelers drafted right tackle Troy Fautanu (Round 1 - Washington) and center Zach Frazier (Round 2 - West Virginia). Both players are on track to start Week 1, although Fautanu is recovering from an MCL sprain. Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. is defending his job against Broderick Jones. Beat writers say Jones' effort has been "lackadaisical" since moving from right tackle, and he could be demoted to the swing tackle role. The guard duo of left guard Isaac Seumalo and right guard James Daniels are solid, and the rookies are exciting, but still, this group ranks 31st overall headed into the season.
Updates from Week 2
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
The quarterback competition between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields remains too close to call. Wilson appears to be nearly fully recovered from the calf injury he suffered in a pre-training camp conditioning session. He participated in walk-throughs and sprinted during warmups for the first time this week. He has also returned to full-contact 11-on-11 drills. Wilson was listed atop the first preseason depth chart and led the team onto the field for the preseason opener. By all outward appearances, he seems to be the favorite for the role. However, it is fair to wonder how much of the “pole position” talk and starter treatment is deference to a decorated veteran and ego management. The preseason opener was a mixed bag for Fields. There were a pair of fumbled center-quarterback exchanges between Fields and center Nate Herbig. After the game, both players placed the blame on themselves. Aside from the fumbled snaps and a play where Fields may have held the ball too long, he played well. He completed five of six passes for 67 yards, quickly getting the ball out to George Pickens for a nice gain and showing perfect timing on a screen pass to Najee Harris. His only incompletion was a catch by Van Jefferson in which the receiver couldn’t get both feet down in bounds. “I thought he and we did some good things, but it was just dulled by some of the negativity,” head coach Mike Tomlin said of Fields. “But from a rhythm passing standpoint, distributing the ball to people, I thought [Fields] did a nice job.”
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
The split between Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren should look almost identical to last season despite the change in offensive coordinator. Harris started against the Texans and had four touches total on the starting offense’s three drives. Warren came in midway through the opening drive and had three touches with the starters. Both left the game when all the other starters took seats. Cordarrelle Patterson is the No. 3 running back. Jonathan Ward looks like the leader in the battle for the final roster spot, with La’Mical Perine and Daijun Edwards also in the mix.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
The big news at wide receiver is the potential addition of Brandon Aiyuk. At one point, it looked like a deal was imminent. The longer it goes with no trade announced, the better the chances that Aiyuk will stick with the 49ers. Aiyuk would combine with George Pickens to give the Steelers a potent 1-2 punch at the position. Aiyuk and Pickens finished first and second in the NFL in yards per catch last season. Aiyuk’s interest in joining the Steelers stems partly from his respect for Tomlin.
Regardless of the outcome of the Aiyuk talks, it’s evident the team has a need at the position. Outside of Pickens, nobody else on the roster has proven worthy of being a starter. Van Jefferson is the No. 2 receiver and started opposite Pickens in the preseason opener. Jefferson has been solid enough, though he fits better as a third or fourth receiver than as a No. 2. “Van respects the game. He plays it the way it is supposed to be played,” wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said. “He plays with a hard edge. He finishes. He creates great habits. He is extremely coachable. I can’t say enough good things about where he is as a player.” Undersized speedster Calvin Austin is the starter in the slot, though that could change when rookie Roman Wilson recovers from his ankle injury. Wilson appears to be at least two weeks away.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth is likely the No. 2 target in the Steelers' offense, behind only Pickens. That would change quickly if Aiyuk is added. “Whatever happens, happens. But the guys on this team are hungry and ready to go. If something happens, great, but we are confident in who we have on our team right now,” Freiermuth said of the Aiyuk rumors. While Arthur Smith’s offense led the NFL in tight end receiving yards last season, it was split almost evenly between Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith. While a similar split is unlikely in Pittsburgh, it is fair to expect more production from the backups. The Steelers spent almost all of one recent practice with two tight ends on the field, and a good portion had three tight ends. Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward, and MyCole Pruitt may be involved enough to limit the upside of other pass catchers.
Preseason Updates: Defense
The Steelers' starting defense was without some top players against the Texans. However, it was still concerning how easily Houston moved the ball. The secondary was especially problematic. Second-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr. had an ugly pass interference call. Rookie Beanie Bishop Jr., who is being counted on to start in the slot, was routinely picked on. Defensive backs DeShon Elliott, Damontae Kazee, and Anthony Averett each failed to bring down Tank Dell on his long touchdown. The Steelers signed pass rusher Markus Golden last week, filling a big hole on the roster. He looked fantastic in his one week with the team, then promptly announced his retirement. Pittsburgh needs T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith to stay healthy because there is little depth behind them.
Preseason Updates: Returners
Cordarrelle Patterson, the best kickoff returner in history, was activated from the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list last Friday and is expected to reclaim that role. Calvin Austin III is likely to field punts this year.
Updates from Week 1
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's What You Need To Know From Every Team This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson entered camp in “pole position” as the Week 1 starter. However, Justin Fields may be emerging as the slight favorite instead. At the very least, this is a wide-open competition, with both players having a realistic shot at the job. "Fields definitely has work to do to catch Wilson in the race for the starting job, but the Steelers are open-minded about his ability to do so," ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote this week. Graziano made headlines when he predicted that Fields would be the starter. Wilson suffered a strained calf during a conditioning test to open camp and has been sidelined for most of the first two weeks. He recently returned to practice but participates primarily in drills and seven-on-seven sessions. He has yet to throw a pass in 11-on-11 work. With Wilson sidelined, Fields has had two weeks to audition for the lead role while taking all first-team reps. He has taken advantage. While Fields started camp slowly, he has shown slow but steady improvement. "Russ is way more of a known commodity because of the years he's had in the league, and he's had a lot of change in the last four years and his journey," offensive coordinator Arthur Smith noted. "Justin is at such a different part of his career, but they both had big moments in this league…You've got a competition going on; you get two guys fighting it out, but you're also building the big picture. So that's why you got to evaluate."
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren return to form a strong two-man committee, which should be the engine of the Steelers' offense. Both have performed well. “I can’t say enough about those top two backs (Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren),” head coach Mike Tomlin said. Both have stood out for their physicality and excellent work in pass protection. Harris has been getting most of the goal-line opportunities in team sessions.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
The only sure thing for the Steelers at the position is that George Pickens is the top guy. He has been targeted heavily throughout camp and has made many of the acrobatic contested catches he is known for. Smith noted that Pickens' growth, development, and football instincts impressed him. “He sees the game well, and (there are) different ways to use George,” said Smith. “And he’s producing. He’s a critical part of our offense.” Roman Wilson seemed poised to emerge as the team's number two wide receiver but suffered an ankle injury during the team’s first padded practice. He spent a week in a walking boot but was seen without it on August 4th. His status for Week 1 is not in jeopardy, though he is missing valuable training camp reps. Behind Pickens and Wilson, the wide receivers have not distinguished themselves. Calvin Austin III appears to be the next man up, getting reps both in the slot and outside. Van Jefferson has also been getting reps with the starters but has produced few highlights. Quez Watkins has had a quiet camp as well. This unit could benefit from an injection of talent, and Pittsburgh may be active in the trade market throughout August.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth is poised for a bounce-back season. The lack of talent and depth at wide receiver means Freiermuth should be the second-most targeted player on the team, behind only Pickens. Under Smith last season, the Falcons led the league in tight end receiving yards and frequently used multiple tight ends. With Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward each bringing unique skills to the table, the Steelers will likely get creative with formations and usage at the position.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Beanie Bishop Jr., an undrafted rookie, is expected to start in Week 1. Despite being undersized, Bishop's tenacity fits the mold that head coach Mike Tomlin seeks in a cornerback. The Steelers' defense appears improved at the linebacker position. Rookie Payton Wilson has shown both rookie mistakes and flashes of his potential, demonstrating the speed and athleticism that made him a notable prospect. Additionally, the acquisition of Patrick Queen, a big-money free agent, provides Pittsburgh with the playmaking inside linebacker they've needed since Ryan Shazier's injury in 2017.
